Bowling practice game device



Nov. 2, 1965 E. 1.. KRYSIAK 3,215,434

BOWLING PRACTICE GAME DEVICE Filed Aug. 8, 1963 E52 2 4 44 M )2 Z INVEN TOR.

EDWARD L. KRYSIAK ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,215,434 BOWLING PRACTICE GAME DEVICE Edward L. Krysiak, RR. 2, Box 571, La Porte, Ind. Filed Aug. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 300,856 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-127) This invention relates to a bowling practice game device. More particularly, it relates to a game device which can be used either for amusement purposes or for purposes of practicing spot bowling, namely, throwing a ball or other object in the fashion in which a bowling ball is thrown toward a spot or target in a manner simulating the practice known in bowling as spot bowling.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel, simple, inexpensive device of this character which will have both entertainment value and teaching value.

A further object is to provide a device of this character with novel goal or target means and with means for recording or indicating a successful use of the device for achievement of a desired aim or goal.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is compact, collapsible, readily set up and used, and which is adapted to receive and confine a game piece in both successful and unsuccessful throws thereof.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device in its use condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a game piece which may be used in playing with the device;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a game piece;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the game device, illustrating a modified construction thereof.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, the numeral designates the lower or base portion of the game device which may be formed of wood, metal, plastic, paper, corrugated paperboard, or any other material found suitable. The device has a bottom panel 12 of elongated rectangular form and shallow longitudinal side walls 14 which extend substantially full length thereof. A back wall 16 connects the rear ends of the side walls 14. A partition 18 extends transversely between the side walls 14 spaced from the rear wall 16. The partition 18 is pref,- erably provided with a cushion or pad 20 covering the surface thereof opposite that which confronts the end wall 16. Partition 18 and the cushion or pad 20 have an opening therein at the center thereof within which is mounted one end of an elongated tube 22 which may be formed of metal, plastic, paper or any other suitable material. The elongated tube 22 extends toward the open or front end of the device shown at the right in FIG. 1. Tube 22 is open at both ends thereof so that an object may pass therethrough to enter the space defined by the side walls 14, the back wall 16 and the partition 18.

A front bottom panel 24 is mounted upon the bottom panel 12 from the front or open end thereof to the front end of the tube 22. Panel 24 is preferably cemented, stapled or otherwise secured to the bottom panel 12 and will have a flat top surface. Tube 22 will preferably bear upon the bottom panel 12 and will have a wall thickness not greater than the Wall thickness of the front bottom panel 24, so as to accept freely and without obstruction a properly directed game piece thrown thereto. The panel 24 has an indicia or mark 26 thereon spaced from the tube 22 and substantially aligned therewith. The mark 26 may be of any size or shape desired, and may be located at any position desired and is to be considered in the nature of a spot or a target or guide. I prefer to have the mark 26 spaced from the end of the tube 22 as shown.

Upon the back wall 16 of the device is mounted a signal member 28. The member 28 may be a bell, a push button or switch button, or any other object which will be struck by game piece which has passed through the tube 22. Thus if the signal member 28 is a bell, the impact of a game piece thereagainst will cause a signalling sound to be generated. If the signal member 28 is an electrical switch button or the like, it may serve to energize a separate signal member (not shown) connected in an electrical circuit energized by closing of the signal member switch upon impact.

The device is preferably self-contained and may be provided with a panel 30 folded or hinged to the top of the back wall 16 so as to permit it to ovenlie and form a closure for the base portion 10 when collapsed for storage. The top panel 30 may be provided with longitudinal side flanges 32. From a box-forming horizontal position when not in use, the top panel 30 and side flanges 32 may be swung to a vertical position for use of the device, in which case the flanges 32 serve to reinforce and strengthen the panel 30 and also to position the same, as by bearing of the end edges thereof upon the top edges of the side walls 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

A game piece 314 is used in playing the game. This game piece may be of any desired character, size and configuration. I have chosen for purposes of illustra ti-on in FIG. 2 a construction of a game piece which is a modified sphere characterized by a plurality of flat surfaces 36. As shown, the flat surfaces 36 are preferably six in number, are similar, and each is disposed at substantially right-angles to the flat surfaces adjacent thereto. It will be understood, however, that a freely rolling or spherical game piece may be utilized, or that a cubical game piece or a game piece of any other desired shape and configuration may be employed. The game piece will preferably be of a size substantially less than the diameter of the bore of the tube 22 so that it will be free to pass therethrough if properly directed thereat. The game piece may be constructed as illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein a cubical or modified cubical body 38 has a passage extending therethrough which is filled with a weight member 40.

In the use of the device, it is set up upon the floor of a game room or recreation room, preferably adjacent a wall thereof which is engaged by the back wall 16 and the top panel 30 when that panel has been positioned substantially vertically, as illustrated. The player then takes a position at a selected distance from the free end of the device and uses the game pieces 34 or 38. The game pieces are thrown with a motion similar to that used in bowling and are thrown toward the guide mark 26 by a player who stands in a position substantially aligned with the tube 22. The object of the game is to develop accuracy and to practice a bowling swing. The accuracy desired is to so throw the game piece as to cause it to light upon the mark 26 or sufficiently close thereto so that the game piece will not bounce or rebound substantially and will continue to move in a direction to enter and pass through the tube 22. It will be apparent that, where spherical game members are employed, the movement of the game member after it strikes the panel 24 may be predicted according to the trajectory of the throw and the position of contact with the game board laterally relative to the mark 26. Lesser accuracy can be predicted where a game member of the character illustrated in FIG. 2 having flat surfaces 36 is utilized, and in such cases an element of luck is introduced in addition to the element of skill.

The device is so constructed as to retain and confine the game members thrown thereto with any reasonable degree of accuracy. Thus any game member thrown in such a manner as to pass through the tube 22 will be retained in the rear compartment of the device, that is, the compartment defined by the side walls 14, back wall 16, and partition 18. A game piece which is thrown with less accuracy so that it does not enter the tube 22 will nevertheless be confined between the side walls 14 upon the bottom panel 12 in most instances. Game pieces which strike the pad 22 on the partition 18 have minimum rebound therefrom and will tend to be confined between the tube 22 and side wall 14 by virtue of the retaining property of the rear edge of the front bottom panel 24 if the game piece rebounds sufficiently to engage that edge.

It Will be apparent that the device may be used as a game only for entertainment purposes, in which case scoring may be done by counting the number of times the signal 28 is energized by a game member passing through the tube. The device also has a bowling practice function particularly desirable for use by children to develop a bowling swing and also to develop accuracy, as previously mentioned.

When use of the device ends, the top panel 30 may be lowered to form a cover for the device. For this purpose it will be apparent that an end panel (not shown) may be provided upon the free edge of the top panel connecting side panels 32 so as to close the space at the open end of the base portion.

A slightly modified construction of the device is illus trated in FIG. 4, wherein parts similar to those shown in FIG. I bear the same reference numerals. In this instance the signal member 28 is eliminated, and the tube 22 will preferably extend into the rear compartment between the back wall 28 and the partition 18. This construction is particularly well suited for use with wood or metal parts. Thus the top panel 30 may be connected to the back wall 16 by means of a hinge 42. Likewise a shallow or narrow front panel 44 may be connected to the front end of the bottom panel 12 by means of a hinge 46. In this construction, when the device is ready for use, the top panel 30 will be opened and held in upright or substantially upright position by any suitable means, such as a prop or support (not shown). The narrow front panel 44 will be lowered to the position shown in FIG. 4 and will form a continuation of the front bottom mark-bearing panel 24; Use of this device is similar to that previously described. The device is self-confining when closed, in which event the top 30 is lowered and the narrow front wall 44 is raised.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A bowling practice game device for use with a game piece comprising an elongated substantially horizontal game board having elongated side panels and a back panel,

a partition extending between intermediate parts of said side panels spaced from said back panel and having a central opening and a pad on its front face, and

an elongated open ended tube adapted for passage of a game piece therethrough and extending longitudinally on said game board spaced from said side panels with its front end spaced from the front end of said game board and from said partition and its rear portion aligned with said partition opening.

2. A bowling practice game device for use with a game piece comprising an elongated substantially horizontal game board having side panels and a back panel,

a partition extending between said side panels spaced from said back panel and from the front of said game board and having a central opening, and

an elongated open ended tube adapted for passage of a game piece therethrough and extending longitudinally on said game board spaced from said side panels with its front end spaced from the front end of said game board and from said partition and its rear portion aligned with said partition opene,

said game board having a target mark thereon aligned with said tube.

3. A bowling practice game device for use with a game piece comprising an elongated substantially horizontal game board having side panels and a back panel,

a partition padded at its front face and extending between said side panels spaced from said back panel and from the front of the board and having a central opening, and

an elongated open ended tube adapted for passage of a game piece therein and extending longitudinally on said game board spaced from said side panels with its front end spaced from the front end of said game board and from said partition and its rear portion aligned with said partition opening,

the portion of said game board forward of said tube having a substantially horizontal top surface at higher elevation than the portion thereof adjacent said tube.

4. A bowling practice game device for use with a game piece comprising an elongated substantially horizontal game board hav ing side panels and a back panel,

a partition extending between intermediate parts of said side panels spaced from said back panel and having a central opening and a padded front surface,

an elongated open ended tube adapted for passage of a game piece and extending longitudinally on said game board spaced from said side panels with its front end spaced from the front end of said game board and from said partition and its rear portion mounted in said partition opening,

a top panel shiftable between a horizontal closed position spanning the upper edges of said side panels and a playing position extending upwardly from said back panel, and

front panel shiftable between an upright position cooperating with said top panel to protect said game board and a horizontal position forming a forward extension of said game board.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,013,074 12/11 Schutz 273l28 1,341,628 6/20 Bourne 273-90 1,893,402 1/33 Ehrlich 273177 X 2,472,187 6/49 Barker 273-127 X 3,003,769 10/61 Brandell 273127 X 3,017,186 1/62 Ascardi 273-128 X 3,113,778 12/63 Silverman 273-405 X FOREIGN PATENTS 175,528 7/53 Austria. 413,361 7/ 34 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BOWLING PRACTICE GAME DEVICE FOR USE WITH A GAME PIECE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL GAME BOARD HAVING ELONGATED SIDE PANELS AND A BACK PANEL, A PARTITION EXTENDING BETWEEN INTERMEDIATE PARTS OF SAID SIDE PANELS SPACED FROM SAID BACK PANEL AND HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING AND A PAD ON ITS FRONT FACE, AND AN ELONGATED OPEN ENDED TUBE ADAPTED FOR PASSAGE OF A GAME PIECE THERETHROUGH AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ON SAID GAME BOARD SPACED FROM SAID SIDE PANELS WITH ITS FRONT END SPACED FROM THE FRONT END OF SAID GAME BOARD AND FROM SAID PARTITION AND ITS REAR PORTION ALIGNED WITH SAID PARTITION OPENING. 